The Wrong Stuff, K'Barthan Series: Part 2

The Pan of Hamgee is not a natural knight in shining armour. Yet he has escaped from police custody in K’Barth, switched realities and foiled Lord Vernon’s attempt to kidnap Ruth, the Chosen One, from the Festival Hall. Pretty good, he thinks.

However, Ruth thinks otherwise. Being pursued by Lord Vernon is bad enough. Now, thanks to The Pan, she’s on the run. They are both alive, of course, but with Lord Vernon on their tail neither of them can be sure how long for.

To save K'Barth and Ruth, the woman of his dreams, The Pan must introduce her to the Candidate, who is prophesied to be the man of her dreams. And he must do it fast – before Lord Vernon finds her. But the gentleman in question is in hiding and no-one knows where.

Only The Pan can find him, if he can bring himself to unite them.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Q – So, tell us about the K’Barthan Series. What made you write it? What makes it special?

A – I wanted to write the books I wanted to read that hadn't been written. This is still why I write. I also wanted it to reflect the books I love, Terry Pratchett's discworld, Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, Tom Holt, Robert Rankin ... Also stuff like Heide Goody's Clovenhoof series, The Stainless Steel Rat series and strains of Harry Potter.

The hero, The Pan of Hamgee, had to be normal; someone who is aware of the risks he is taking and human – ie scared – for whom bravery costs. In Ruth, the heroine, I wanted to create someone pragmatic, sensible and grounded. She’s not going to lose a shoe and fall over, so the hero has to go back and help her, and they both get caught by the monster. She’s a strong female protagonist who is a bit more of a hero than The Pan, frankly – to start with at any rate. I think he catches her up as the story unfolds.

Q – Do our readers have to read the K’Barthan Series in order?

A – Yes otherwise the character development – and some of the technology – will make less sense. That said, the series of K'Barthan Extras I'm currently writing to go with it can be read any time. The rest of the books go in this order:

Hopefully not. Basically, if you have read the Harry Potter series and weren't freaked out by the scary bits in that, you should be fine with the K'Barthan Series.

Q – What will readers enjoy most about The K'Barthan Series?

A – Hopefully, the same things as I do: the laughs, the romance – where it appears – the fast pace and the action – especially the flying car chases – and I hope they will like its deeper side.

Q – What is your favourite kind of Book? Would The K'Barthan Series fit on the list?

A – Oh yes. As I mentioned earlier, I love humorous novels although a lot of my influences come from TV. There was this evening slot in the UK, after homework but before supper, when they showed old stuff on BBC2; original StarTrek, Get Smart, Hogan's Heroes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The persuaders, the Avengers, the Saint, Randal and Hopkirk Deceased, Space 1999. Then there's Blake's Seven and Dr Who, and Red Dwarf, of course. I loved all that.

Q – Do you have a target reader?

A – Officially it’s young adults and teenagers but it's turning out to be age 10 and up. Sure, now that it’s complete the series is certainly proving popular with teens and young adults and I had my nephew in mind when I wrote them, who was a teenager at the time. However, I firmly believe that all the best books should hold a universal appeal, so I also wrote it for me. Thus far – if the people who contact me are anything to go by – it appeals to a certain type of person across the board. The oldest fan of the series I know of is in his 90s and the youngest is 10.

Basically, if you like British Comedy you will probably enjoy the K'Barthan Series. If you enjoyed the Narnia books and the Harry Potter books you will probably like it. You might even like it if you enjoy historical novels like The Children of the New Forest, or Moonfleet.

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